Yeah. It’s good to be back.
Chapter Two
[Image Description: The four members of Sticks+Stones stood with their arms around each other, smiling at the camera, in front of T-Mobile Arena. They’re all holding up Nevada Dragons merchandise, but there is no crowd—it’s not a game day.]
@SticksStonesBand: Getting on board with our new home team! GOD have we missed hockey. Excited to see the Dragons kick ass this season! #LetsGoDragons #VegasBaby
@SticksB1tch_: UGH I keep forgetting you’re all jocks
@TagMeInCoach: New album WHEN??
@Unic0rnWarri0r: Disappointing to see you supporting the NHL after all the ways they’ve failed the LGBTQ+ community. I expected better.
@EmosaurusBex: @Unic0rnWarri0r Oh grow up they’re allowed to have hobbies
—Instagram, October 1st, 2022
In the excitement of it all, Nick almost forgets about his pre-game promise. It’s not until they’re sitting in their stalls, having thundered into the locker room high off the back of a 4–1 win, that Marco knocks their knees together.
“Hurry up, dude. We got places to be.”
Nick blinks, puzzled—he’s done his media already. And then he remembers: the band.
“Oh, shit, yeah.”
Marco snorts, pulling his gross, sweaty sock off with an indecent noise of satisfaction. “Shower and get pretty, Tiernan.”
“I’m always pretty,” Nick retorts with an exaggerated flutter of his eyelashes.
As tempting as it is to take as long as physically possible in order to watch Marco get more and more wound up, Nick does want to get out of here before traffic getstooobnoxious. Also, he wants to watch Marco lose his cool over these people, whoever they are. Marconeveracts like this, not about any VIP or celebrity they’ve had at the arena—and, being based in Vegas, they get more than their fair share.
Nick honestly could not name a single Sticks+Stones song, nor any of its bandmembers. He doesn’t even know what they look like. All he knows is they’re some emo band that’s just started making it into the big leagues—though Marco will insist that he was listening to themwaybefore they were cool. Nick’s definitely heard their music before, but he can’t say he’s paid much attention to it. He was always more into pop than rock. More Katy Perry than Fall Out Boy. Not to be a stereotype or anything.
However, if he remembers correctly, he’s pretty sure at least one of the members of the band is queer, possibly? He’s sure he saw something about it while scrolling Twitter one time—he doesn’t exactlylookfor that kind of stuff, but… it’s nice, sometimes, to see other people who have the guts to do what he doesn’t.
Sure, the music industry is totally different to professional sports, but also, they’re still a rock band. That’s pretty hardcore.
Once they’re showered and dressed in regular clothes, Nick and Marco bid goodbye to their teammates and go in search of Kat, who’s waiting in the hallway, phone in hand. When they approach, she looks up with a smile. “The band’s ready if you are, boys.”
“Do we have stuff to sign for them? Pucks or whatever?” That’s usually how it goes. Make nice, take pictures, sign some merch, and everyone goes away happy—especially the PR teams.
“Wait! Shit!” Marco exclaims, going wide-eyed. “Do we have anything forthemto sign? Oh my God, I should’ve grabbed a flyer, or like,anything. Kat, do you have a notebook?”
Kat fixes him with such a look of exasperation that Nick chokes on a laugh. “I do have a notebook,” she says flatly. “But… we also sent Jesse out during the game to pick up the vinyl of their last album for you.”
There are stars in Marco’s eyes as he grips both of her hands in his. “I love you,” he says in an awed whisper. Gently, she removes herself from his grasp, rolling her eyes.
“You’re welcome.”
“DoIget a vinyl too?” Nick asks, mostly to be a shit.
“You don’t even listen to them!” Marco protests indignantly. Kat’s smile doesn’t falter.
“They only had one vinyl in stock, I’m afraid.” Then, she reaches into her little team-branded fanny pack. “But I have a notebook.”
Yeah, he deserved that.
Kat leads them up through the backstairs to where the VIP boxes are at, and Marco almost trips over his own feet when they stop outside a door.
